VENNICE BIENNALE 9 May - 22 November, 2015Venice - Giardini/Arsenale

Mongolia Pavillion ​Palazzo Mora

The Mongolia Pavilion explores modern-day mobility and displacement, raising questions about what and where “home” is and humans’ relationship with nature. The artists work with natural organic products from Mongolian nomadic traditions, such as felt, horsehair, horse dung, and wood. The Mongolia Pavilion consists of two types of art presentation: a sedentary pavilion space at the Palazzo Mora and a nomadic pavilion with artist Enkhbold’s performances presented at designated public spaces around the city of Venice.The two artists were born and raised in Mongolia and experienced migration as young adults. Artist Unen Enkh attended art schools in Prague and Budapest and later moved to the German city of Freiburg im Breisgau, where he completely transformed his art from two-dimensional graphic media to sculptures made with natural materials from his homeland.Enkhbold’s art includes a variety of media. His two-dimensional works, made primarily of horse dung, ash, sand, and wood, will be displayed at the Palazzo Mora. With these works, Enkhbold joins the artists who defy the traditional concept of painting and its usual materials. Enkhbold’s performance art in Venice further develops ideas that he has explored previously at different locales around the world. Enkhbold questions the division between urban forms and his nature-based ger (yurt).Venice was built by residents fleeing invasions by nomads, including Attila and the Huns in the 5th century. Centuries later, Venetian merchant Marco Polo (1254–1324) traveled to the Mongol Empire, where he spent 16 years at the Mongol Khan’s court. Enkhbold, building upon the historical legacy of Venice’s relationship with nomads and Mongols, will bring his performance art to the heart of Venice by nomadizing around the city and socializing with Venice locals and visitors.The Mongolia Pavilion is organized by Mongolian Contemporary Art Support Association and funded by leading Mongolian businesses with the support from Mr. E.Bat-Uul. Mayor of Ulaanbaatar City. The project team includes Commissioner B.Gantuya, Head of MCASA, Curator and Art Historian Ts, Uranchimeg and Scientific Committee with David A Ross, former Director of Whitney Museum of American Art and Ch.Boldbaatar, art historian and artist.

National Participation of the 56th Venice Biennale

ENKHBOLD Togmidshirev (b.1978) - OTHER HOME

UNEN Enkh (b.1958) - OTHER HOME

COLLATERAL EVENTS

LAND ART MONGOLIAOn the occasion of the opening of the 56. Biennale di Venezia, Land Art Mongolia is delighted to present highlights of the last three venues from 2010 - 2014, a performance by Ganzug Sedbazar, and an outlook on the forthcoming 4th edition of the Biennial in August 2016.